ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Developing microbial cell factories by employing synthetic small regulatory RNAs
• 'Quadruple helix' DNA discovered in human cells
• One form of neuron turned into another in brain
• Warmer soils release additional CO2 into atmosphere; Effect stabilizes over longer term
• Mature T cells can switch function to better tackle infection
• Blood-based biomarkers may lead to earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
• Revolutionizing military manufacturing
• Mars may have supported life: Martian underground could contain clues to life's origins
• Molecular switch enabling immune cells to better fight disease
• Scientists find protein that reins in runaway network
• Genetic basis of high-risk childhood cancer points to possible new drug treatment strategy
• Tumors evolve rapidly in a childhood cancer, leaving fewer obvious treatment targets
• Epigenetics explains rheumatism? Genes and their regulatory 'tags' conspire to promote rheumatoid arthritis

Developing microbial cell factories by employing synthetic small regulatory RNAs Posted: 20 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST Biotechnologists have been working hard to address the climate change and limited fossil resource issues through the development of sustainable processes for the production of chemicals, fuels and materials from renewable non-food biomass. One promising sustainable technology is the use of microbial cell factories for the efficient production of desired chemicals and materials. Scientists have now discovered that synthetic small RNA can be employed for finely controlling the expression levels of multiple genes at the translation level.

'Quadruple helix' DNA discovered in human cells Posted: 20 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST In 1953, Cambridge researchers Watson and Crick published an article describing the interweaving "double helix" DNA structure -- the chemical code for all life. Now, in the year of that scientific landmark's 60th Anniversary, Cambridge researchers have published another article demonstrating that four-stranded "quadruple helix" DNA structures -- known as G-quadruplexes -- also exist within the human genome.

One form of neuron turned into another in brain Posted: 20 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST A new finding by stem cell biologists turns one of the basics of neurobiology on its head -- demonstrating that it is possible to turn one type of already differentiated neuron into another within the brain.

Warmer soils release additional CO2 into atmosphere; Effect stabilizes over longer term Posted: 20 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST Warmer temperatures due to climate change could cause soils to release additional carbon into the atmosphere, thereby enhancing climate change – but that effect diminishes over the long term, finds a new study. The study sheds new light on how soil microorganisms respond to temperature and could improve predictions of how climate warming will affect the carbon dioxide flux from soils.

Mature T cells can switch function to better tackle infection Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST Helper cells of the immune system can switch to become killer cells in the gut. The fate of mature T lymphocytes might be a lot more flexible than previously thought. New research shows for the first time that mature CD4+ helper T lymphocytes can be re-programed to become killer-like CD8+ T lymphocytes and gain killing functions.

Blood-based biomarkers may lead to earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition. At present, it is usually diagnosed only when motor features are present. Hence, there is a need to develop objective and measurable biomarkers to improve PD diagnostics during its earlier stage, prior to its motor onset. In this pilot study, researchers identified and tested the first blood-based circulating microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for PD.

Revolutionizing military manufacturing Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST A new set of engineering software tools may revolutionize the process of designing and manufacturing military vehicles.

Mars may have supported life: Martian underground could contain clues to life's origins Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST Minerals found in the subsurface of Mars, a zone of more than three miles below ground, make for the strongest evidence yet that the red planet may have supported life, according to new research.

Molecular switch enabling immune cells to better fight disease Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST Scientists have discovered the mechanism that enables CD4 helper T cells to assume the more aggressive role of killer T cells in mounting an immune attack against viruses, cancerous tumors and other damaged or infected cells. The finding could enable the development of more potent drugs for AIDS, cancer and many other diseases based on using this mechanism to trigger larger armies of killer T cells against infected or damaged cells.

Scientists find protein that reins in runaway network Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST Marked for death with molecular tags that act like a homing signal for a cell's protein-destroying machinery, a pivotal enzyme is rescued by another molecule that sweeps the telltale targets off in the nick of time.

Genetic basis of high-risk childhood cancer points to possible new drug treatment strategy Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST Scientists have identified a possible lead in treatment of two childhood leukemia subtypes known for their dramatic loss of chromosomes and poor treatment outcomes.

Tumors evolve rapidly in a childhood cancer, leaving fewer obvious treatment targets Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST An extensive genomic study of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma reinforces the challenges in treating the most aggressive forms of this disease. Unexpectedly, the scientists found relatively few recurrent gene mutations.

Epigenetics explains rheumatism? Genes and their regulatory 'tags' conspire to promote rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 20 Jan 2013 11:58 AM PST In one of the first genome-wide studies to hunt for both genes and their regulatory "tags" in patients suffering from a common disease, researchers have found a clear role for the tags in mediating genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The scientists say they were able to spot tagged DNA sequences that may be important for the development of RA.

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